He began integrating traditional techniques and patterns into his designs, and his work now includes a popular collection of cushions and throws, as well as a successful wallpaper collaboration.
“People have told me, ‘Oh, your work is not African,’ because they want to see ankara prints. It’s been so impressed in the minds,” Mandi told me.
“I get inspiration from indigenous traditions and cultures, and then, I give it a more contemporary spin,” he added.
Listening to Mandi made me realise how much I, too, had come to associate modern African design with ankara fabrics.
This textile has dominated African fashion and design, making its mark on global stages in recent decades.
And so, as I wandered through the exhibition, it was easy to assume that African designs were absent from this notable gathering.
When she first started, Ejikeme juggled both law and interior design, working in one during the week and the other on weekends. It did not take long for her to realise where her true passion lay.
“In one world, you’re trying to contain your energy or yourself or your expression just so that you don’t ruffle feathers, while in another world your energy, you can’t even extinguish it,” she said.
Since making the leap to full-time design six years ago, she has tackled a variety of projects, from homes and workplaces to movie sets.
Last year, she launched her own rug collection, adding a new dimension to her work from her Swallow and Tea studio.
“It’s a really new thing and I’ve only had two shows but so far I’ve had mostly residential and retail buyers mainly from Europe probably because my first show was in Belgium. Decorex was my first UK show,” Ejikeme said.
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